Annunciator.



J. H. BALLWEG.

ANNUNGIATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 18, 1908.

Patented May 11, 1909.

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Patented May 11, 1909.

J. H. BALLWEG.

ANNUNGIATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1908.

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qwi/twwow J. H. BALLWEG.

ANNUNGIATOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 190B.

Patented May 11, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFCE,

.JOHN HARLAN BALLWEG, OF BAKER CITY, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J.

BALLWEG, OF BAKER CITY, OREGON.

ANN'UNCIATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. 'BALLWEG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baker City, in the county of Baker and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Annunciators; and I do declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This inventionrelates to improvements in annunciators.

The object of'the invention is to provide a device of this character adapted for use in connection-with mines, hotels, or other places from which-signals or calls are made from a number of different points or rooms.

A further object is to rovide a device of this character which will be comparatively simple in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and strictly automatic in action.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. is

a side view of the casing with parts broken away and in section; Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view, parts being omitted to avoid confusion; Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the casing removed; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 1-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electric push button circuit; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the solenoid circuit for operating the controlling and starting mechanism.

. in the embodiment of the invention I provide a suitable base, 1, on which is arranged a bearing standard, 2, and a magnet supporting frame, 3. Revolubly mounted in the standard 2 and the frame 3 is a tubular operating shaft, 1. On the shaft 4 is loosely mounted a rotatable drum, 5, having on its periphery a series of numbers, which correspond to the several push buttons located at various oints in the mine, hotel or other place with which the annunciator is connected. On one end of the shaft 4 is fixedly mounted a bevel gear, 6, which is connected with a bevel pinion, 7, on the up or end of a drive shaft, 8, which is mounts for-,0. eration in a bracket, 9, and in the base oY the machine, as shown. On the shaft, 8, is arranged a' worm gear, 10, with which is engaged a worm, 12, on the end of a motor shaft, 13, which is connected to a motor, 14, of any suitable character.

Slidably mounted in the tubular shaft 4 is a spring-retracted startin rod, 15, which passes through and extendfiieyond the bevel gear 6, and through a controlling gear, 16, which is revolubly mounted in the upper end of the bracket, 9. The car, 16, turns loosely on the rod, 15, and is in engagement with the gear pinion, 7, on the upper end of the drive shaft. On the hub of the controlling gear,.16, is formed a series of laterally projecting locking pins, 17, with which is adapted to be engaged a locking disk, '18, which is fixed on the end of the starting rod, and has formed therein a series of apertures to receive the ins, 17 when the starting rod is retracted, t ereby holding the controllinggear, 16, against rotation, and, through said gear, locking the operating mechanism against movement.

The frame, preferably consists of-four diverging arms, which are arranged at rightanglesto each other and are connected at their outer ends to an annular supporting ring, 19, to the inner edge of which is connected a series of right-angular, radially projecting supporting lugs, 20. The outer ends of the lugs, 20, are connected to a magnet supporting ring, 21, on which is secured an annular series of magnets, 22, on the outer ends of each of which is pivotally mounted an armature bar, 23, said bars forming switches, which, when the magnets are energized, will be drawn into engagement with a contact-wheel, or band, 24, which is arranged on a series of right-angular projecting arms or brackets, 24, secured to or formed on the inner side of the drum, as shown. The wheel, 24, is provided in outer edge with an insulated notch, 25, which, when. brought opposite to the armature of the en.- ergized magnet, will permit said armature to drop into the notch and thus break. the electric connection between the armature and the wheel. Said armature and wheel are arranged in an electric circuit, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. Coiled springs, 26, are provided to force the armatures out of engagement with the notch 25 and back to their normal positions when the magnets are deenergized. Each of the magnets, 22, is arranged in an independent circuit, the current of which is controlled by a push button located in one ofa number of rooms or difierent places which are in connection with the annunciator, so that when said. push button is pressed to complete the circuit, the magnet corres" ondingflto this button and the number of t e room or lace in which it is located, will be energize and the armature of said magnet drawn into an electrical connection with the wheel, 20, carried by the drum, 5, thus completing an electrical circuit, as hereinbefore described.

The electrical circuit of which the armatures of the magnets and the wheel, 20, form which loosely engages and slides on the tubular shaft, 4. The core of the solenoid is adapted to bethrown outwardly when the solenoid is energized, and on the outer end of said core is secured a yoke, 29, which is loosely connected to one member, 30, of a clutch, the'opposite member, 31, of which is fixed or formed on the inner side of the drum, 5. The member, 30, of the clutch is keyed to the. shaft, 4, and is slidable thereon so that when the solenoid, 27, is energized to force its core 28 outwardly, the yoke on said core will move the clutch member 30 into engagement with the clutch member, 31,- and thereby lock the drum to the shaft, 4, so that when the latter is revolved, the drum will also be rotated.

On starting 'rod, 15, is arranged a transversely disposed pin, 32, the ends of which project through longitudinally disposed slots, 33, formed in the op osite sides of the tubu lar shaft. The en s of the pin, 32, are adapted to be engaged by the yoke,-29, on the core, 28, of the solenoid, whereby, when the core and yoke are forced alongthe shaft, the starting rod will also be moved rearwardly by the yoke and thereby disengage the locking disk, 18, on the end of the rodfrom the locking pins, 17, on the hub-of the controlling gear, 16, thereby releasing said controlling gear and permitting it to loosely turn on the starting rod, which will allow the drive shaft, 8, and pinion, 7, to operate the gear, 6, and the tubular shaft, 4, thus operating the drum which has previously been locked to the shaft through the operation of the clutch mechanism, as herelnbefore described. When the drum has been thus started, the contact wheel 20 will be carried thereby until the notch ,in said slot is brought opposite to the armature of the energized magnet, which armature is in electrical engagement with the outer ed e of the wheel. As soon as the notch, 25, 111

the wheel is brought opposite to the engaging armature, the latter will drop into the notch and thereby break the solenoid circuit owing to the insulation in said notch. When the solenoid circuit has thus been broken, the startin rod will be retracted by means of a coilc spring, 34, which is arranged thereon betweena head, 35, on the forward endof the rod and the adjacent end of the tubular shaft. When. the starting rod is thus retracted by the spring, 34, the core of the solenoid will-also be drawn back into its normal position and the clutch member, 30, disengaged from the clutch member, 31, on the drum, thereby disconnecting. the drum from the shaft and causing the drum to'stop, with the number on the periphery thereof opposite to themagnet corresponding to the number of the push button and to the num her on the periphery of the drum, which number will be exposed through a viewopening, 36, in the casing. The retraction of the starting rod 15 by the spring, 34, will also draw the locking disk, 18, into engagement with the locking pins, 17, on the controlling gear, thus locking said gear and the driving mechanism against movement. In order to cause the drum to'instantly stop when the same has been disconnected from the drive shaft by the clutch mechanism hereinbefore described, I rovide a brake pawl, 37, which is mounte on the bearing standard, 2, and is provided with a finger, 38, havi g a V-shaped point adapted to engage wit a series of brake teeth, 39, formed on thelhub of the drum. The head, 38, of the pawl 37 is held in operative engagement with the teeth, 39, by means of a torsional s ring, 40, as shown. The pawl, 37, will a so hold the drum against casual retrograde movement.

. lnthe operation of the device, assuming that the occupant of room No. 12 desires to call the attendant at the annunciator, he presses the push button in this room, which will energize magnet No. 12 in the annunciator, causing it to draw its armature into engagement with the outer edge of the contact wheel, thus corn letin the solenoid circuit as hereinbefore descri ed, which will energize the solenoid and cause the same to force its core outwardly and thus lock the drum to the operating shaft by the clutch members connected to these parts, and to simultaneously shift the starting rod and disengage the locking disk thereon from the lockmg pins on the controllin gears, thus releasing the drivingmechamsm and enabling the latter to revolve the operating shaft and drum and the contacting wheel carried by the drum until the insulated notch in said wheel is brought opposite to the armature of the energized magnet. This armature will immediately drop into the insulated notch and thereby break the solenoid ciracross cult, permitting the spri 34, to retract the starting rod, which wil disconnect the clutch mechanismof the drum and simultaneously engage the locking disk with the locking pins on the controlling gear, thereby stopping the driving mechanism. /Vhen the parts have thus been stopped, the number 12 on the drum will appear op osite the view-opening in the casin and W1 indicate to the attendant that a cal has been sounded from room No. 12.

A lamp, 41., may be arranged in the solenoid circuit so that'when more than one drum is employed, the attendant may'know which one is Working.

From ,the toregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without re uiring a more extended explanation.

arious changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire/to secureby Let tors-Patent, is:

i. In an annunciator, 'a revolubly mounted drum having thereon a series of indicating characters, a motor to operate the drum, means to lock the drum against movement, a starting mechanism adapted to release said locking mechanism and to simultaneously connect said drum with said 0 crating mechanism, and means operated through a push button to actuate said starting mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In an anuunciator, a revolubly mounted operatin shaft, a drum loosely mounted on said she t and having thereon a series of indicatin characters, a clutch mechanism to 0 erative y connect said drum with said sl iaft, a drivin mechanism connected to the shaft, a contro ing mechanism connected to said clutch mechanism, a starting and stoppin mechanism adapted to be en aged With and disengaged from said control ing mech anism, a clutch operating mechanism, and means to actuate said clutch operating and starting. mechanism whereby said drum is started, and means to automatically stop the drum in position to display the proper indicating character, substantially as described.

3. .11 an annunciator, a revolubly mounted operating shaft, means to; drive said shalt, a controllin mechanism connected with said driving mec anism, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, said drum having thereon a series of indicating characters, a clutch ,to o ieratively connect said drum With the s raft, a solenoid to simultaneously operate said clutch and controllin mechanism whereby the latter is actuate to start and stop said driving mechanism, a solenoid circuit, and means to make and break said circuit, substantially as described.

4. In an annunciator, a revolubly mounted operating 'shaft, a driving mechanism geared to said shaft, a controlling mechanism connected to said driving mechanism, a starting and etc ping mechanism connected to said contro ling mechanism, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, said drum having indicating characters, a clutch mechanism adapted to operatively connect said drum with the shaft, a solenoid adapted to simultaneously operate said clutch mechanism and said stopping and starting mechanism, a solenoid clrcuit, an automatically operated switch mechanism adapted to com plots said solenoid circuit, and means Wherey said circuit is automatically broken at the proper time to display the desired character on said drum, substantially as described.

5. In an annunciator, a casing having a display opening, a revolubly mounted operating shaft, means whereby said. shaft is driven, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, said drum having thereon a series of indicatin characters, a clutch adapted to o rative y connect said drum with said s aft, a solenoid to operate said clutch, a starting mechanism connected to said driving mechanism and controlled by said solenoid, a solenoid circuit, a series of electromagnets, armature switches controlled by sai magnets to complete said solenoid circuit, and means carried by said drum to break said circuit and thereb sto the drum at the proper time to display tie desired character, substantially as described.

6. In an annunciator, a casing having a display 0 suing, a revolubl mounted opcrating s. aft, a drum loosey mounted on said emit, a driving mechanism connected to the latter, a clutch mechanism to operatively connect said drum to said shaft, a starting mechanism, a solenoid ada ted to simultaneouslyoperate said clutch an starting mech anism, means to retract said clutch and starting mechanism whereby the driving mechanism is locked and the drum released from said shaft, a solenoid circuit, aseries of electroma nets, armature switches controlled by sa-i magnets to com lete said solenoid circuit, a contact Wheel carried by said drum and adapted to be engaged by said armature switches to complete said solenoid circuit, a

operate said drum, means to stop and start said driving mechanism, a brake pawl adapted to engage said drum to positively stop the same when the driving mechanism is stopped and to hold the drum against retrograde movement, a solenoid adapted to actuate said stopping and starti mechanism, and a magnetically controlle solenoid circuit adapted' to ener ize and denergize said solenoid, substantially as described.

8. In an annunciator, a casing having a view-opening a revolubly mounted tubular operating shaft, a driving mechanism geared to said shaft, a locking gear connected to said driving gears, a startin rod slidably mounted in said tubular sha a series ofl6cking pins on said controlling gear, amapertur'ed coking disk on said starting rod adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from said pins to lock and release said controlling gear, a character displaying drum revolubly mounted on said shaft, a clutch mechanism to lock said drum in operative connection with said shaft, a solenoid adapted to simultaneously operate said clutch and starting rod, whereby the latter is caused to release said controllin gear, a spring to retract said rod, a solenoi circuit, a contact wheel carried bysaid drum andforming part ofsaid circuit, magnetically operated armature switches arranged in said solenoid circuit and adapted to be engaged with said contact wheel to complete said circuit, and means on said contact wheel to breaksaid circuit, thereby deenergizing said solenoid and causing said drum to stop at the proper position to dis lav the desired character thereon throng the display opening in said casing, substantially as descri ed.

9. in an annunciator, a revolubly mounted operating shaft, a character displaying drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a contact Wheel carried by said drum, said wheel having formed therein an insulated notch, a magnet-supporting frame, an annular series of electro-magnets mounted on said frame,

a pushbutton circuit connected with each trically connected to said solenoid circuit where when said magnets are energized, said armature switches are drawn into electrical engagement with said contact Wheel to complete said solenoid circuit and whereby when the notch in said wheel is brought opposite to the armature switch of the energized magnet, said circuit will be broken, and springs adapted to disengage said armature switches from the notch in said contact wheel after said circuit has been broken, substantially as described.

10. In an annunciator, a supporting base, a casing having therein a display opening a bearing standard on said base, an operating shaft revolubly mounted in said standard, a driving mechanism connected to said operating shaft, a motor arranged in said casing, and operatively connected to said driving mechanism, a controlling mechanism con nected to said driving mechanism, means to lock and release said controlling mechanism, a character displaying drum revolubly mounted on said shaft, a clutch mechanism to lock said drum to the shaft, a solenoid adapted to simultaneously operate said clutch and said stopping and starting mechanism, a solenoid circuit, a series of magnetically oper ated switches to open and close said solenoid circuit, and a series of push buttons circuits whereby said magnetic'switches are independently operated, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wltnesses JOHN HARLAN BALLWEG. Witnesses;

W G. 'DROWLEY, EDWIN T. WENTZ. 

